Why ChatGPT can't write for you | David Savill | TEDxUniversityofSalford
TLDRDavid Savill, a teacher of reading and writing and a novelist, discusses the importance of literacy in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasizes that while AI can mimic human language, it cannot replace the human experience of reading and writing. Savill shares the story of Paulo Freire, a Brazilian educator who was jailed for teaching literacy to the masses, highlighting the threat true literacy poses to oppressive powers. He argues that literacy is not just about decoding words but is a journey towards critical and creative thinking. Savill also addresses concerns about AI's impact on education and the arts, stressing that while AI can generate content, it lacks the human process of thought and self-reflection. He concludes by advocating for the preservation of human literacy as a means of personal and societal empowerment, and as a tool for shaping our world rather than just being shaped by it.
Takeaways
- 📚 The importance of literacy is not just about reading and writing, but also about critical and creative thinking, analysis, and self-reflection.
- 🌐 Language is the source code of civilization, and reading and writing are like software built upon it, enabling societies to store information and develop collective memory.
- 🚀 The development of large language models like ChatGPT is seen as a crucial step towards artificial general intelligence, which can perform any task humans can.
- 🤔 The rise of AI writing tools has caused concern among educators and writers about the future of human literacy and the value of the writing process.
- 🧐 AI tools like ChatGPT give the impression of writing and thinking, but they do not truly engage in the process of human cognition and creativity.
- 💭 The act of writing is a deeply reflective and transformative process that can alter our consciousness and provide a different point of view.
- 🧠 Neuroscientific studies show that experienced creative writers engage more areas of the brain, indicating that writing can enhance cognitive abilities.
- 🌟 Paulo Freire's work emphasizes the power of education to give individuals a voice within their communities and to shape the world around them.
- 🌱 The journey of literacy is essential for personal and societal growth, and it is through this journey that we can find our meaning and purpose.
- ✍️ Writing is a muscle of the mind that needs to be exercised to develop the ability to think critically and creatively.
- 🧑👦 The value of a literate society lies in its ability to foster a sense of agency and to promote active participation in democracy.
- 🌈 In the age of artificial intelligence, the ability to author one's own story and to explore one's humanity becomes even more critical.
Q & A
What is the main concern of David Savill regarding the use of AI like ChatGPT in the context of writing and literacy?
-David Savill is concerned that the use of AI like ChatGPT could undermine the value and process of human writing and literacy. He believes that AI tools give an illusion of writing and thinking, but they do not truly engage in the cognitive and creative processes that are fundamental to human literacy and personal growth.
What is the story of Paulo Freire and how does it relate to the importance of literacy?
-Paulo Freire was a Portuguese language teacher who developed a literacy program based on critical pedagogy in Brazil during the late 1950s. His success in teaching agricultural workers to read and write led to him heading a national literacy program. However, the military dictatorship that took over Brazil in 1964 saw literacy as a threat to their power and jailed Freire. The story illustrates the connection between literacy, democratic societies, and individual freedoms.
How does David Savill describe the literacy scale and its importance?
-David Savill describes literacy as not a binary proposition but a scale. He explains that while students at the University of Salford are already literate in terms of decoding and comprehending words, the kind of reading and writing taught there empowers students to continue their journey towards higher levels of literacy, where it facilitates critical and creative thinking, analysis, and self-reflection.
What is the role of language and literacy in human civilization according to the metaphors used by David Savill?
-David Savill uses metaphors to describe language as the source code of civilization, reading and writing as software built upon that source code, and media as the technology disseminating information. These elements enable societies to store information, develop collective memory, solve problems, and develop new thoughts, which are crucial to human civilization.
What are the potential negative impacts of using AI for writing as highlighted by David Savill?
-David Savill highlights that using AI for writing could lead to a passive process where quick answers and art are accessed without deep reflection or critical awareness. This might hinder the development of a self-reflective consciousness, which is essential for individual agency and the health of a democratic society.
What is the significance of the act of writing in shaping one's consciousness according to David Savill?
-According to David Savill, the act of writing is significant in shaping one's consciousness. When students write and pay close attention to technique, they alter their consciousness and experience a different point of view. This exercise of the mind's muscle is crucial for setting down words in concert with memory, imagination, and environment.
How does David Savill relate the concept of 'humanization' as described by Paulo Freire to the future of education in the age of artificial intelligence?
-David Savill relates the concept of 'humanization' to the future of education by emphasizing the importance of education that helps individuals discover a literate voice and shape their world, not just be shaped by it. In the age of AI, finding and experiencing what it means to possess a human consciousness becomes even more critical for human happiness, the health of democracy, and our ability to meet the problems of our age.
What is the role of creative writing in the educational process as discussed by David Savill?
-Creative writing plays a crucial role in the educational process as it helps students engage in deep thought and self-reflection. It allows them to express their unique consciousness and experiences, and through rewriting and technique observation, it can alter their consciousness and provide different perspectives.
How does David Savill view the potential of AI in the field of education, science, and technology?
-David Savill acknowledges that large language models and generative AI hold enormous promise for education, science, and technology. However, he is concerned that the misconception of what these models can do might devalue the process and purpose of reading and writing in the development of human consciousness and civilization.
What are the three questions that David Savill believes AI will never answer for us?
-The three questions that David Savill believes AI will never answer for us are: 'Who are we?', 'What is our meaning?', and 'What is our purpose?' He emphasizes that these are questions that each individual must answer for themselves through their personal journey and exploration of their humanity.
How does David Savill describe the process of reading and writing as a means of self-discovery and personal growth?
-David Savill describes the process of reading and writing as a means of self-discovery and personal growth by likening it to the act of walking a path and making the road by walking. Through the act of writing, individuals author themselves, exploring their consciousness, and creating meaning. Reading, in turn, allows them to see the meaning made by their words.
What is the importance of having a literate society according to David Savill's perspective?
-According to David Savill, a literate society is important because it empowers individuals to not just be recipients of information but active participants in shaping their world. Literacy facilitates critical thinking, self-reflection, and the ability to engage in democratic processes, which are essential for a fair and just society.
Outlines
📚 The Importance of Literacy and AI's Inability to Answer Human Questions
The speaker, a teacher and novelist, discusses the significance of reading and writing in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). They emphasize that AI will never be able to answer three fundamental human questions: who we are, what our purpose is, and what gives our life meaning. The speaker recounts the story of Paulo Freire, a Brazilian teacher who developed a literacy program that was later shut down by a military dictatorship, illustrating the power and threat of literacy to oppressive regimes. The narrative highlights the importance of literacy for personal empowerment, community, and democracy, and contrasts it with the passive consumption of information facilitated by AI.
🚨 The Impact of AI on Education and Creativity
The paragraph delves into the initial panic among educators following the release of AI language models like Chat GPT, which led to numerous cases of academic misconduct as students used AI to generate essays. The speaker discusses the broader implications of AI's ability to pass standardized tests and contribute to literary works, raising concerns about the devaluation of the writing process and the potential loss of deep reflection and critical thinking. They argue that while AI can mimic the appearance of writing and thinking, it lacks the substance and active engagement that comes from the human mind's cognitive processes. The speaker also explores the importance of the writing process in shaping individual consciousness and the need for active, rather than passive, engagement with language.
🧠 The Neuroscientific Perspective on Literacy and Writing
This section explores the neurological aspects of writing and literacy. The speaker discusses how different levels of literacy engage various parts of the brain, with experienced writers showing more activity in areas associated with semantic production and meaning. The paragraph also touches on the idea that literacy can free up cognitive resources, allowing for more complex thought processes during reading and writing. The speaker references Paulo Freire's work and教育理念 (educational philosophy), emphasizing the role of education in fostering humanization and agency. They argue for the continued importance of human literacy in an age of AI, as it is integral to our ability to shape our world and understand our place within it.
🌟 The Necessity of Personal Authorship in the Age of AI
The final paragraph focuses on the irreplaceable nature of personal authorship and the exploration of one's humanity. The speaker argues that despite the advancements in AI, there are existential questions that only humans can answer for themselves. They stress the importance of maintaining the ability to write and create as a means of self-discovery and personal growth. The speaker uses a poem by Antonio Machado to illustrate the idea that the act of writing is akin to forging one's own path in life. They conclude by advocating for the preservation of human literacy and creative expression as essential components of our humanity, even as we enter an age dominated by artificial intelligence.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)
💡Literacy
💡Critical Pedagogy
💡Large Language Models
💡Humanization
💡Authoring Oneself
💡Democratic Societies
💡Creative Writing
💡Education
💡Self-Reflection
💡Agency
Highlights
David Savill discusses the importance of reading and writing at the dawn of artificial intelligence.
AI's ability to thrive as a human depends on questions it will never answer, related to individual identity, community, democracy, and humanity.
The story of Paulo Freire, a Portuguese language teacher who faced persecution for his literacy program in Brazil, illustrates the power of literacy.
Literacy is not binary but a scale, with higher levels facilitating critical and creative thinking.
The future of a fair society and human fulfillment is seen in lifelong learning and literacy.
Language is the source code of civilization, while reading and writing are the software built upon it.
Media, from stone hieroglyphs to digital age, is the technology disseminating information and enabling different ways of reading and writing.
Large language models like Chat GPT are a stepping stone towards artificial general intelligence.
The release of Chat GPT raised concerns about academic misconduct and the future of writing and critical thinking.
Chat GPT's ability to generate essays and pass exams sparked a debate on the value of human literacy.
The misuse of AI in writing confuses the product with the process and destination with the journey.
The act of writing is a physical manifestation of a writer's consciousness and a tool for self-discovery.
Reading and writing are essential for developing a self-reflective consciousness, a key aspect of being human.
The brain activity of experienced creative writers reveals a more active semantic production and learned coordination.
Fluent reading and writing free up brain areas to generate original ideas and think creatively.
Paulo Freire's work emphasizes the importance of education for humanization and giving individuals a voice in their communities.
In the age of AI, the purpose of education aimed at humanization becomes more universal and critical.
Every person should have the power and pleasure of exploring their humanity by authoring themselves.
AI will never answer the fundamental questions about who we are, our meaning, and our purpose.
